This morning, the House and Senate invited conference on the two remaining teacher pay raise bills, HB 1395 and SB 2103. This is wonderful news and an indication that legislators are working together to craft a desperately-needed pay raise for our deserving public school teachers! Please reach out to your legislators right away and urge them to adopt a minimum $5,000 teacher pay raise before the end of the legislative session.
Rising costs and stagnant pay have driven too many teachers out of the profession, worsening the already severe teacher shortage crisis affecting every school district in our state. A meaningful investment in teacher salaries will pay dividends for us all, helping to avoid the loss of more educators, attract new teachers into the profession, and sustain the remarkable work being done in Mississippi’s public schools.
Please also remind your lawmakers that Mississippians do not want another dime going to private schools, whether through vouchers, tax credits, or any other means.
Ask all legislators to:
Insist on a minimum $5,000 teacher pay raise and an assistant teacher pay raise this year
and
Insist on a conference report that redirects Children’s Promise Act private school tax credits to special purpose schools or VOTE NO on HB 1944
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann: 601.359.3200
House Speaker Jason White: 601.359.3300
Capitol Switchboard: 601.359.3770
The House teacher pay raise plan is in SB 2103, which was amended to provide, beginning in 2026-2027, a $5,000 pay raise for certified teachers, an additional $3,000 raise for special education teachers (total $8,000), and a $3,000 raise for assistant teachers. It also includes amendments to the PERS statute, caps on superintendent salaries, and a number of other initiatives and sections of law brought forward for possible amendments.
The Senate teacher pay raise plan is in HB 1395, which was amended to provide a $6,000 pay raise for certified teachers spread across three years beginning in 2026-2027 ($2,000 per year); an additional $3,000 for special education teachers (total $9,000), also spread across three years; a $2,000 assistant teacher pay raise; and a provision limiting the time charter schools have to exercise their first right of refusal on public school property offered for sale (the purpose of the original bill).
Legislators need to know that you will have the backs of those who stand up for our public schools and the amazing public school teachers who have brought so much positive recognition to our state – and that you, likewise, will not forget votes that deny public school teachers a competitive salary while sending state dollars to private schools.
Make those calls today. And tomorrow. Invite others to join our effort. Spread the word, and ask your friends and family to call. Our teachers and our children are counting on us, and together, we’ve got this!
